Tiny S.J. Pooch To Appear on 'Live! With Kelly' Thursday

Tune in to Live! With Kelly at 9 a.m. Thursday morning, Jan. 12 and you might catch a glimpse of precious new local celebrity Lucy, a 2.5-pound Yorkshire terrier recently dubbed by Guinness as the world's smallest working dog.

Lucy's owner, Sally Leone Montufar of Absecon, said she received a call from the show's producers late Wednesday afternoon asking her to bring Lucy to the taping in New York City. Montufar had to postpone Lucy's scheduled visit to a special education school in Vineland, but was thrilled to get the call.

"I'm over the moon," Montufar exclaimed. "Dolly Parton will be on, too."

Why all the fuss over this teacup pooch? Lucy, who spreads canine goodwill to patients in nursing homes, hospitals, schools and juvenile treatment centers, was featured Tuesday and Wednesday in local and national television segments.

Montufar said she will leave her home at 5 a.m with Linda DeSantis, her friend and neighbor on Delray Lane who has co-owned and cared for Lucy since they rescued her two-and-a-half years ago.

A woman had brought Lucy into into Paw Dazzle, a Smithville dog grooming shop where Montufar worked, and said she was taking the dog to a shelter because she couldn't care for her anymore.

Before Live! With Kelly called, Montufar and this reporter had scheduled an interview for Friday morning, so check back here for the details about Lucy's star-studded trip to the Big Apple.

Kelly Ripa is a Berlin Borough native. Her father, Joe Ripa, is the Camden County Clerk.